Automatic plug



R. M. DIENER AUTOMATIC PLUG May 6, 1930.

Filed Dec. 8, 1924 2 She ets-Sheet l .3 234 6 0 f///. a, n

n x A J4 f a a May 6, 1930. RM, D|ENER 1,756,940v AUTOMATIC PLUG I Filed Dec. 8, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 6l, 1930 UNITED 'STATES RILEY M. DIENER, OE` ELKHART, INDIANA, .ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0y

CHICAGO TELEPHONE SUPPLY COMPANY, OF ELKHART, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE AUToMA'rio PLUG Application filed December 8, 1924. lSerial No. 754,476.

My invention relates to connectors particularly adapted for use in telephone or radio plugs, but not limited to such use.

It is desirable in plugs -of this character to provide readily detachable and connectible terminals so that the plug may be readily attached to a cord and with equal facility detached therefrom. Also it is often desirable to connect two circuits, for example, two head sets to a common plug.

According to my invention, I provide a terminal which has suitable clutch means for readily and automatically gripping pin tips or terminals, or other conductors. In the preferred form of my invention, which I have shown herein, provision is made for gripping two sets of terminals so that two receivers may be connected to the same plug.

The clutch for obvious reasons employs a metallic spring which may be depended upon for electrical contact. A. metallic seat is therefore ,not necessary, but is preferable in practice.

In addition, I provide a c-ommon release clement for releasing the clutch to free all the terminals at once. I also provide automatic expulsion means which may optionally be employed to expel the terminals when they are unclutched.

The clutch element includes a spring which is set at an angle to the socket, so that the tip or pin may be forced past the end of the spring when the pin is inserted, but the pin is thereby caught and can be withdrawn only by bending the spring away from the pin.

For a two cord plug, I provide on each element or contact of the lplug a unitary plate with the opposite edges thereof bent about to form opposing sockets or seats, these sockets or seats preventing the lateral escape of the pins or conductors, and between these opposed seats I provide an arched leaf spring, the central part of which is attached to the plate between the seats. 'A piece of insulation with spaced leOs, is mounted above the spring with the ends of the legs in position to press down the ends of the springs, so as to release the tips. If desired, springs may be provided in the seatbelow the position of the clutching springs to expel the tips as soon as they are released. 1

Now, ywhile I have shown the clutch mechanism as applied to the terminals of a plug, it is to be understood that my invention is not limited to use in plugs, but may be employed wherever a quick attachable and detachable connectionis desired. The invent-ion is applicable to quick detachable terminals for circuits of every description.

Now, in order to acquaint those skilled in the art with the manner of constructing and operating a. device embodying my invention, I shall describe in connection. with the accompanying drawings, a specific embodiment of the same.

In the drawings Fig. l is a top plan view of a ing my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the same;

F ig. 3 is a central longitudinal section on an enlarged scale'taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on an enlarged scale taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. l;

F ig. is a transverse section taken on the line 5--5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. t3 isa side elevational view with half of the housing or shell removed showing a modification Fig. 7 is a transverse section taken on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view showing a modification Fig. 9 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 9-9 of lTig. 8;

F l0 is a longitudinal cross section showing a further modihcation; and

ig. 'll is a fragmentary sectional view illustratin o* e modification of the device shown plug embodyin Fig. 10.

Referring now to the device shown in Figs.

l to 5, inclusive, the plug comprises the usual y lao Yio

Cl f

ear 6 is bent at substantially right angles to the ina-in body of the plate 7, and the upper end or the metallic sleeve contact 1 is prei'- erably threaded into said lug or ear. The needle f1- is, in reality, an elongated bolt of small diameter and at its upper end it eX- tends through a lug 8 bent at substantially right angles from the main body of a plate 9. The needle 4 has at its upper end the head 10 which clamps the lug er ear 8 down upon an insulating washer 11 which separates the ear 8 from the ear 6. rlhe tip 2 is threaded internally and forms a nut which is drawn up on the threaded end ofthe needle 4l to hold the parts together.. The end oi the needle may then be soldered to the tip 2 when the parts have been thus assembled. The plates .7 and 9V are preferably formed of sheet metal and they lie substantially parallel to each other. These plates are connected together mechanically by a spacing collar 12 of insulation, which collar has a reduced neck at each end litting into an'aperture in the plates 7 and 9, so torhold the collar in place. The plates in the'upper end oi the sleeve contact 1 are surrounded by a housing 13, which is rformed of two complementary halves or shells 111 and 15, these shells 14 and 15 having registering apertures in line with the hole through the insulating collar or spacer 12, .so that a bolt 16 may pass therethrough and hold the parts together. rlhe holes in the shells 14 and 15 are preferably counterbored to receive the head 17 of the bolt 16 and to receive a nut 18.at the opposite end ofr said bolt 16., ln this manner, the two shells may be made from the same mold.

The plates'7 and 9 each have laterally eX- tending wings, the edges of which are bent intosubstantially semi-cylindrical form, as

indicated at 20, to form seats for the pin terminals or tips 21 vwhich are adapted to enter the same endwise. The purpose of thus bending the edges of the plates 7 and 9 is to restrain the lateral movement of said tips or conductors 21, so that they may be properly gripped by the clutch springs which will nowV be described. At vthe upper end of the late 7, and likewise at thev upper end of the plate 9, there is formed an extending ear 22 which is bent at substantially right angles to the main body of the plate, so that the two ears'22 extend toward each other. To the bottom of each one of these ears is connected an arched spring` 23, as by means of the rivet 24. rllhe ends of the springs 23 extend diagonally toward the seat 2O and project suliciently Jfar into said seat that it is neces- 1 sary for the tips 21 to push the end of the spring down in order to push past the same. The spring 23 presses against the tips 21, and due to its kdiagonal position this spring` tends to Wedge or strut itself against the tip 21 solas to clutch the same efectually against removal. lVhile I have shown the loop 27 to provide anarrow neck l28 substan-Y oi' the Y tially at right angles to the main body spring 26 for conveniently fastening the same into place. Y

rl`he shell or housing 13 is provided with guiding openings 30, each in line with the corresponding seat 2), so as to guide the tips 21 into place in said seat to be clutched by the springs 23.y These guiding openings 30 are formed in the insulating material, or' which the shell 13 is composed. The openings serve to limit the lateral play of the tips so that sidewise movement ci the same is prevented and the spring 23 cannot be accidentally released by lateral movement or' the pins 21 or the conductor cords 31 fastened thereto.

'l provide a common release member 32A which has a thumb piece extending above the top ot the shell 13. rThis release member 32 has shoulders 3e tormed to engage cooperating shoulders on the housing 13 so as to prevent movement of the release member 32 out n oit' the housing 13. T he central partV of the release member 32 is arched oier the ears 22 and depending legs are n adapted to engage the outer portions or' the springs 23 so as to depress the ends o' the springs and move them away from the seat in order to unclutch or release the tips or conductors 21. i

lnstead of having the release member 32 'formed with a reduced neck and shoulder for guiding and holding the same in the shell 13, l may provide integral pins37 on the release member 38, as indicated in Fig. 8, said integral pins playing in slots 39 formed in the sides of the housing 13. tail in Figs. 6 and 7, Y

In Fig. 9 l have shown a modification in which a pair oi flat hair pin springs 40 have their bottoms or bends clamped together in parallelism by the integral lu gs l1 which are stamped out of the side plates l2 to pinch and hold the bottom of these hair pin springs 410 together'. The upperV legs of the springs 40 extend diagonally 'downward toward the seat 2O and are a suitable length to grip the rpinsor conductors 21 when the same are slid endwise into the seat 20. The lower libs of the springs 10 tend to occupy the dotted line position shown in Fig. 10, but they are oi .alength which does not permit them te move awav from contact with the ends'or" the pins 2l with the result that these lowerlegsel?) arey merely depressed or put under teAision so that when the release member 38 depresses the upm, inls 1s snown in deper limbs ofthe springsdO to unclutch the pins or conductors 21,-the loWer limbs l?) resume their normal position and throw the contact pins or conductors 2l out of the sockets 20. To facilitate this action, the outer ends of the loiver limbs all?) may have extensions or lugs i5 bent up therefrom to engage the lower ends of the pins 21, and upon release of the upper limbs l0 of these springs, to push the ends of the pins 2l past the ends of the upper limbs of the springs as to prevent accidental catching of the pins 2l by said upper springs or limbs'.

It is believed that the operation of the device is apparent from the foregoing description. The tips 2l are merely pushed into position past the clutching springs andare there held their seat until the release member is depressed, Which release member bends the clutch sivirings away from the tips and releases the tips. lf expulsion springs are used, the tips are automatically expelled when the release member 32 is depressed.

bviously separate clutch springs and release springs may be employed, if desired.

New it will be apparent that While I have shoivn the metal plates 7 and 9 as recurved to form the clutch seat, and this is the preferred manner, it is not necessary that the clutch seat be formed on the metallic plate, such clutch seat may be formed in the shells 14 and l5 as extensions of the openings 30. The spring, such as 23, will malte the necessary electrical Contact to the plates Zand 9 and thus to the sleeve l and tip 2 of the plug or other contact.

l do not intend to be limited to the details shoivn and described, except as the same appear in the appended claims.

claim l. In combination, a terminal comprising a metal plate having a longitudinal seat formed along one edge thereof by bending of the margin of the plate. and a spring arm secured to said plate and extending diagonally toward said seat and having its end disposed adliacent said seat to clutch a conductor Which is inserted endivise into the seat, said diagonal spring arm being disposed at such an angle to said seat that movement of the conductor in a given direction Will cause the end of the spring to bite more firmly into the surface of the conductor.

2. ln combination, a terminal comprising a metal plate having a curved cylindrical portion forming a. seat adapted to receive a conductor and a spring arm secured to said plate and extending diagonally toward said seat, said diagonal spring arm being disposed at such an angle to said seat that movement of the conductor in a given direction Will cause the end of the spring to bite more firmly `into the surface of the conductor.

3. ln combination, a terminal comprising a metal plate having a curved cylindrical portion forming a seat for a conductor, a spring arm secured to said plate and extending diagonally toward said seat, and means for depressing said spring arm to move it away from said seat, said diagonal spring arm being disposed at such an angle to said seat that movement of the conductor in a given direction will canse the end of the spring to bite e firmly into the surface of the conductor.

ln combination, a terminal comprising a metal plate having its margin bent back upon itself to form longitudinal seat for a con ductor, a spring arm secured to said plate and extending diagonally toward and up to said seat, and means comprising a guiding opening for guiding a pin into said seat, said diagonal spring arm being disposed at such an angleto said seat that movement of the conductor in a given direction Will cause the end of the spring to bite more firmly into the surface of the conductor.

5. ln combination, a plate having an edge thereof bent around into substantial parallelism to form a seat for a conductor and a leaf spring secured to said vplate and having its free end extending diagonally toward and' up to said seat. said diagonal spring being disposed at such an angle to said seat that movement of the conductor in a given direction ivill cause the end of the spring to bite more firmly into the surface of the conductor.

6. ln combination, a plate having an edge thereof bent upon itself to form a` seat extending longitudinally of said margin, a leaf spring secured to sa'd plate, said leaf spring having its free end extending diagonally toward and disposed at said seat, and guiding means for guiding a conductor endwise into said seat and for limiting lateral movement of said conductor.

7. ln combination.y a plate having an edge' yportion thereof bent to form a substantially e cylindrical seat, a leaf spring secured tosaid plate and having its free end extending diagonally toward and disposed at said seat, and

a manually operable release member guided in said shell tor engage said spring. Y y

9. In combination. a plate having aportion thereof recurved to form a seat for a conductor, a leaf spring secured to said plate and having its free end extending diagonally torvfard and up to said seat, ashell about said seat, said shell having a guiding openingaXially in line with said seat, and a manual release member of insulationV guided-V in said shell, said release member being adapted. to engagesaid spring to move the end thereof array from said seat.

10. In combination, a plate having an edge thereof recnrved to form a. seat 'for a concluetor, another edge of said plate being bent over to forni a spring seat and a flat spring secured to said spring seat and extending diV- agonally np to said first seat. I

11. In combination, a plate having a margin thereof recurved to form a seat :tor a conductor, a lug integra-l with said plate forming spring supporting means, and a flat spring secured to said lug and extending diagonally toward said seat to clutch a conductor in said seat.

12. In combination, a plate having a margin thereof recurved to form a seat for a conductor, a lug integralwith said plate forming spring supporting means, and a fiat spring secured to said lug and extending diagonally toward said seat to clutch a conductor in said seat, and a release member adapted to engage the spring to bend it away from said seat.

13. A plate having opposite edges thereof recurved to form opposed seats for conductors, a spring secured centrally on said plate, said spring having the free ends thereo extending diagonally towards said opposed seats.

14. In combination, a plate having its opposite edges recurved to form opposing substantially parallel seats, an arched liat spring having its ends extending up to said seats and having its central portion secured to said plate, and means for releasing the ends of said springs by bending the same away from said seats.

15. In combination, a pair of substantially parallel plates, opposite edges of each plate being recurved to form clntch sockets for conductors, an arched spring for each plate having its ends extending diagonally up to the sockets of its plate, the central part of said spring being secured to said plate, and a common release member for depressing all of the ends of the springs simultaneously.

y 1G. In combination, a pair of parallel plates having adjacent edges recurved between said plates to form clutch sockets, leaf springs secured to said plates, each leat' spring having its ends extending up to the sockets diagonally to clutch a Conductor therein, and common means for releasing both springs simultaneously. I

17. In combination, a pair of parallel plates hat/ing downwardly extending lugs, said lugs being inturned to overlie each other, contact means connected to said overlying lugs, said Contact means connecting said lugs together, said plates having along adjacent margins recurved portions forming clutch sockets, and

Y diagonal springs, one on each plate extending diagonally up to said sockets.

18. In combination, a pair of parallel plates having downwardly extending lugs, said lugs being inturned to overlie each other, contact together, said plates having margins there- I of Jformed into clutch sockets, and diagonal springs connected to said plates and extending up to saidY sockets and means for releasing said springs.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 5th day of December, 1924. RILEY M. DIENER.

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